Chelsea step up Pato move

Guus Hiddink looks set to make his first signing in his second stint at Stamford Bridge with Corinthians forward Alex Pato expected to sign.

The Brazilian club's coach, Tite, has all but confirmed the news. According to Globo, Tite suggested the player's future could be resolved by the end of the weekend.

"Maybe in two or three days you journalists will have an answer about Pato," Tite said. "A response from me won’t be needed."

Pato has a slight reputation as having a lackadaisical attitude on the pitch and, having transferred from AC Milan to Corinthians was sent out on loan to Sao Paulo for two years due to his underwhelming performances in his first season.

Round-up of Saturday's stories

The 30-year-old is set to become one of the highest profile players to move this January, with his contract set to expire in the summer and PSG determined not to allow him to leave on a free.

Spanish giants Barcelona have long been interested in acquiring his services – although only as a back-up player in case one of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez or Neymar suffers an injury – whilst Inter Milan are also keen, although could struggle to pay the Argentinian international’s wages.

So Chelsea may have jumped to the front of the queue in the race to sign Lavezzi. Not only would meeting his wage expectations cause Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich little strife, but the player’s favoured position out wide could soon become vacant, if Eden Hazard really does leave the club.

Hiddink is eager to strengthen his attacking options with Chelsea still struggling to improve their faltering form, Lavezzi would certainly add some star dust to their front-line.

The ex-Napoli man, who has scored 34 goals during his last four seasons at the Parc des Princes, also has 7 goals at international level, where he plays in a more withdrawn position behind Messi and Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero.

However, speaking recently to Italian journalists, Roberto Mancini – who has publically admitted to his interest in the forward – questioned why the striker would want to leave PSG.

“Why would he leave PSG, where he’s winning the League and playing in the Champions League?” Mancini said in his Press conference ahead of Inter Milan’s match against Atalanta.

“He’ll be a free agent in June, and there could be a chance, but at the moment I think it’s difficult.”

January transfer window closes in

Ramires has been at the club since 2009, and was a regular first-team player in his first four seasons at the club.

Ramires has struggled to hold down a regular starting spot for Chelsea

But his game-time begun to suffer last season under Jose Mourinho, when the midfielder featured in only half of Chelsea’s Premier League games, and being used sporadically in European competition.

This season hasn’t been much better, with the 29-year-old Brazilian slipping behind John Obi-Mikel in Guus Hiddink’s favour.

Unsurprisingly this has disappointed the tenacious midfielder, who is already courting interest from Borussia Dortmund. Whether Hiddink is open to the idea of moving him on, remains to be seen.

And finally, Monaco’s vice-president, Vadim Vasilyev, has revealed that his club were all set to take the mis-firing Radamel Falcao off of Chelsea’s hands before his injury problems ended any hope of a January switch-up.

The Colombian international moved to Stamford Bridge on loan in the pre-season, but has dismally failed to make any significant impression at the English club.

Chelsea are already desperate to farm him back to France and had appeared to convince the French club into taking him back. But a thigh problem soon put paid to that.

“It’s true that we had a lot of exchanges, several times, with Falcao,” Vasilyev said.

“The first idea was that he might return to Monaco to play the second half of the season.

Falcao performed better in France than England

“He came here, he was assessed by the doctors. Unfortunately, yes, he’s injured.

“I don’t want to get into the medical situation but in the end we took the decision that it’s better, for the moment, that he stays with Chelsea.”